Rhododendron plant named "MARIAN'

Abstract

‘Marian’ is a new variety of rhododendron. This variety was produced by the hybridization of the ‘Stardust’ variety with the ‘Hagoromo’ variety in 2010. The plant may be used, e.g., as a flowering plant for outdoor cultivation, or as a potted plant. ‘Marian’ is visibly appealing, and produces flowers comprising a corolla that comprises vivid purple-pink and light purple-pink colors.

Description

Plant name and variety denomination: Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Rhododendron L. The claimed plant is a hybridization of different species. The parental lines of the claimed plant resulted from the hybridization of different species. Common names of the claimed plant's species: Rhododendron, Azalea, Azaleodendron. Variety denomination: ‘Marian’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rhododendron is a genus of woody plants in the Ericaceae family, either evergreen or deciduous, and found mainly in Asia, although it is also widespread throughout the highlands of the Appalachian Mountains of North America. Most species have brightly colored flowers that bloom from late winter through to early summer.

Both species and hybrid rhododendrons (including azaleas) are used extensively as ornamental plants in landscaping in many parts of the world, including both temperate and subtemperate regions. Many species and cultivars are grown commercially for the nursery trade.

Rhododendrons are often valued in landscaping for their structure, size, flowers, and the fact that many of them are evergreen. Azaleas are frequently used around foundations and occasionally as hedges, and many larger-leafed rhododendrons lend themselves well to more informal plantings and woodland gardens, or as specimen plants.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Marian’ is a new variety of rhododendron (more specifically azalea, still more specifically azaleodendron) bred by pollinating variety ‘Stardust’ with pollen from variety ‘Hagoromo’ in 2010. The plant may be used, e.g., as a flowering plant for outdoor cultivation or as a potted plant.

‘Marian’ is visibly appealing, and produces flowers comprising a corolla that has spots and vivid purple-pink and light purple-pink colors.

‘Stardust’ rhododendron (unpatented) is a rhododendron variety that originated in Japan in 2001. ‘Stardust’ was produced by the hybridization of the ‘Wedding Bouquet’ (unpatented) variety with the ‘Purple Splendour’ (unpatented) variety. This variety has a small tree size in the shape of a dome. The flowers of this variety have a small diameter with a pinkish-purple color. There are about 15 pieces of blossom flower in the shape of a small dome.

‘Hagoromo’ rhododendron (unpatented) is a rhododendron variety that originated in Japan in 2004. ‘Hagoromo’ was produced by the hybridization of the ‘Taiyo’ variety with the ‘Kifujin’ variety. This variety has upright and branch growth. The flowers of this variety have a medium diameter with edge colored white and pinkish. There are about 15 pieces of flower blossoms that form a round shape.

‘Marian’ was asexually reproduced by tissue culture in Japan at Kamiogoso2080, Anocho Toshima, Tsu-shi, Mie, 514-2322. Specifically, propagation was carried out by taking a growing point from a lateral bud of a sprout and cultivating the growing point, without use of callus. Plants propagated from a ‘Marian’ plant by asexual or vegetative means are uniform and stable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a ‘Marian’ plant body.

FIG. 2 is a photograph depicting the full view of young ‘Marian’ plants being cultivated in a divided tray.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing an enlarged view of a ‘Marian’ flower.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of flowers of comparative variety Mrs. Fujii.

FIGS. 5A-D are photographs showing measurements of various different parts of ‘Marian’ plants. The units shown are centimeters.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Variety: ‘Marian’

Species of the plant claimed: Rhododendron L. The claimed plant is a hybridization of different species. The parental lines of the claimed plant resulted from the hybridization of different species.

Common names of the claimed plant's species include: Rhododendron, Azalea, Azaleodendron

Characteristics of ‘Marian’ provided herein were observed when the plant was cultivated in the open with rain cover at Akatsuka Garden Co., Ltd., “first farm” having an address at Ueogoso2080, Anocho Toshima, Tsu-shi, Mie, 514-2322, Japan. Descriptive terms used in Tables 1, 2, and 3 herein are consistent with the Japanese Examination Standard for Rhododendron/Azalea (Rhododendron L.), TG/42/6 1995-10-20, pages 1-17, available at www.hinshu2.maff.go.jp/info/sinsakijun/kijun/1543.pdf, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Properties and characteristics of ‘Marian’ are described in Table 1.

TABLE 1
Properties and characteristics of ‘Marian’
Charac-			Class Value
teristic			(Numeric Data)
No.	Description	State of Expression	of ‘Marian’**
1	Plant: persistence of	evergreen	3
	leaves
24	Flower: shape	open funnel-shaped	2
25	Flower: diameter	medium	5
30	Corolla lobe: number	Two	2
	of colors on upper side
	(excluding markings
	of the throat)
31	Corolla lobe: main	Japan color standard	Not applicable
	color on upper side	for horticultural plants
		(JHS) Color Chart No.
		9504 (vivid purple-
		pink)
32	Corolla lobe:	JHS Color Chart No.	Not applicable
	secondary color	9502 (light purple-
	on upper side	pink)
35	Corolla lobe:	medium	5
	conspicuousness of
	markings of the throat
36	Corolla lobe: type of	spots not touching	1
	markings	each other
42	Time of beginning of	late*	7
	flowering
*Late April to early May, e.g., May 6th, when grown at Akatsuka Garden Co., Ltd., “first farm” having an address at Ueogoso2080, Anocho Toshima, Tsu-shi, Mie, 514-2322, Japan.
**Numerical Values in this column correspond to the “state” in the Table of Characteristics of the Japanese Examination Standard for Rhododendron/Azalea (Rhododendron L.), TG/42/6 1995-10-20, pages 1-17, available at www.hinshu2.maff.go.jp/info/sinsakijun/kijun/1543.pdf.

When grown in Tsu-shi, Mie, 514-2322, Japan (or in an areas with a similar latitude and climate) ‘Marian’ should be planted between early October to late March. In this region, flowering time is from late April to early May. Locations suitable for the growth of ‘Marian’ included mesic areas with good drainage and a soil pH of 5.0 to 5.5.

A variety that is similar to ‘Marian’ is ‘Mrs. Fujii’. Characteristics of ‘Marian’ and ‘Mrs. Fujii’ are compared in Table 2. Flowers of ‘Mrs. Fujii’ are shown in FIG. 5.

TABLE 2
Distinguishable Characteristics between ‘Marian’ and ‘Mrs. Fujii’
Denomination		State of	State of
of Similar	Description of	Expression in	Expression in
Variety	Characteristics	Similar Variety	Candidate Variety
Mrs. Fujii	Corolla lobe:	9204 (vivid	9504 (vivid
	main color on	purple-pink)	purple-pink)
	upper side

A comparison between features of ‘Marian’ and its parental varieties is provided in Table 3.

TABLE 3
Description of Physical Differences between Parental Plants
	Characteristic of
Variety	flower	Shape of tree, etc.	Origin
Claimed	Bright pink and	Upright. Small	First hybridized in
Variety:	medium diameter	size of tree and	2010. Flowering
‘Marian’	flower with	branching is not	first observed in
	noticeable	violent.	2013
	brown spot.
	Around 25 pieces
	of blossom flower
	in the shape of ball.
Mother	Small diameter	Small size of tree	Original variety
Variety:	flowers, pinkish-	in the shape of	obtained by
‘Stardust’	purple. 15 pieces of	dome	hybridization of
	blossom flower in		‘WEDDING
	the shape of small		BOUQUET’
	dome.		variety with
			‘PURPLE
			SPLENDOUR’
			variety in 2001.
Father	Medium diameter	Upright and	Original variety
Variety:	flower with edge	branched growth	obtained by
‘Hagoromo’	colored, white and		hybridization of
	pinkish. Around 15		‘TAIYO’ variety
	pieces of blossom		with ‘KIFUJIN’.
	flower in a round		variety in 2004
	shape

It will be understood that the average size of the plant may vary with location, season, nutrition, irrigation, etc.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Rhododendron L. plant named ‘Marian’ as illustrated and described.